Last Updated On 08 Sep, 2020

How to Become a Executive Chef

About Executive Chef

Executive Chef is the leader of all the cooks and culinary assistants working inside a restaurant’s kitchen. He is in charge of everything that goes out of the kitchen. An Executive Chef is responsible for overseeing some of the administrative tasks involved in running a restaurant and establishing a cooperative relationship with team members. He also manages the work of line cooks and sous chefs. An Executive Chef participates in creating new dishes, planning menu, overseeing kitchen expenses and ensuring the quality of food. 

His major duties include ensuring all food safety regulations, modifying the menu and coordinating with the kitchen members. An Executive Chef also hires and train the new kitchen staff members. Some of the Executive Chefs are specialized in a certain type of cuisine such as the Mediterranean, Ethnic, American or Asian. 

Responsibilities of an Executive Chef

Check some major responsibilities of an Executive Chef provided below.

  • Supervising kitchen staff’s activities

  • Recruiting and managing kitchen staff

  • Ensuring hygiene standards and proper grooming for all kitchen staffs

  • Interacting with guests to collect feedback on food quality

  • Maintaining Quality levels of storage, receiving, presentation, production of food

  • Keeping time and payroll records

  • Estimating food requirements and labour/ food costs

  • Ensuring all products are prepared in a consistent manner

  • Modifying menus or creating new ones that satisfy quality standards

Eligibility to become Executive Chef

Candidates who wish to become an Executive Chef will have to meet the eligibility criteria decided by the hotel. They can check the eligibility criteria to become an Executive Chef provided below. 

Education Required

  • Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in hotel management or culinary arts

  • Those who have completed a master’s degree in culinary arts will be preferred

  • They should have good knowledge of food profession principles and practices

  • Some of the hotels hire candidates who have good knowledge of human resources management, BOH systems and inventory.

Work Experience

5+ years of experience in hotel management or any relevant field is required

Skills

Provided below are some skills required for Executive Chef

  • Excellent communication skills

  • Time Management skills

  • Organisation skills

  • Willingness to Learn

  • Ability to Skilfully Multitask

  • Leadership Skills

Courses to Become an Executive Chef

You can check the table provided below to know some of the courses that you can pursue to become an Executive Chef. The table also includes the total fee and the top colleges offering these courses. You may apply for these courses by filling our Common Application Form.

Course

Total Fee (Approx)

Top Colleges for Culinary Arts

Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology

INR 40,000 to INR 3.00 lakh

Bachelor of Hotel Management

INR 40,000 to INR 5.00 lakh

BSc in Culinary Arts

INR 10,000 to INR 3.00 lakh

BA in Culinary Arts

INR 65,000 to INR 2.90 lakh

PGD in Culinary Arts

INR 60,000 to INR 3.00 lakh

Types of Job Roles Executive Chef

Executive Chef is one of the important job positions in any hotel. His job responsibilities vary from hotel to hotel. He is responsible for enhancing the productivity of kitchen staff such as culinary assistants, sous chefs, cooks, and even dishwashers. Most of the Executive Chef work around 12 hours a day. Duties of an Executive Chef are not just limited to the kitchen as he also has to manage some work outside the kitchen such as hiring staff and reporting to the head restaurateur. Some of the major profiles available for an Executive Chef are provided below. 

If you want to know what profession is perfect for you, you can take our Career Profiling Test. Besides this, you can ask questions about a career as an Executive Chef on Collegedekho QnA zone

Employment Opportunities for Executive Chef

There are many employment opportunities available for an Executive Chef. He can apply to restaurants, spas, convention centres, resorts, hospitals and medical centres, corporate facilities, catering companies, cruise lines, casinos and guesthouses. Apart from this, an Executive Chef can also start his own catering company. The graph provided below will provide you with a detailed understanding of the employment opportunities available for an Executive Chef. 

Employment Opportunities for Executive Chef

Top Recruiting Agencies for Executive Chef

Some of the major recruiting companies for Executive Chef are listed below.

  • The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai

  • The Leela Palace Udaipur

  • The Lodhi New Delhi

  • The Leela Palace New Delhi

  • The Oberoi New Delhi

  • The Oberoi Rajvilas

  • Taj Falaknuma Palace

Planning to choose Executive Chef as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Executive Chef

  • The average salary of an Executive Chef will vary according to his skills and experience.

  • Candidates who have some experience in menu planning, budget preparation and inventory management can earn up to 8 lakh per annum.

  • Those who are working in top reputed and luxury hotels of India may earn more in comparison to those working in small restaurants. 

Profile

Starting Salary per annum (in INR)

Mid Level Salary per annum (in INR)

Senior Level Salary per annum (INR)

Executive Chef

4,95,000

8,50,000

15,10,000

Salary of Executive Chef

 

Books & Study Material to Become Executive Chef

Books & Study Material to Become an Executive Chef 

Here are some recommended books for Executive Chef. 

  • The Tummy Trilogy by Calvin Trillin

  • On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee

  • The Flavor Bible by Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page

  • On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee

  • Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

  • Becoming a Chef by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen A. Page

  • The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White

Pros of becoming a Executive Chef

  • This profile will help you express your creativity

  • Executive Chef profile is one of the highest-paid profile in hotel management

  • You may start your own business such as a catering company or a hotel

  • Numerous job opportunities are available for an Executive Chef

Cons of becoming a Executive Chef

  • You will be working 12 hours a day. Sometimes you will have to work during the weekend also

  • This profile requires you to be physically as well as mentally active

  • If you are aiming to work at any five-star restaurant, you really have to work hard

  • You will have to be updated with new dishes and techniques

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.

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FAQs about Executive Chef

Who are the major recruiters for an Executive Chef?

Some of the major recruiters available for an Executive Chef are The Leela Palace New Delhi, The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi Rajvilas and Taj Falaknuma Palace.

Where can an Executive Chef apply?

An Executive Chef can apply to restaurants, hospitals and medical centres, corporate facilities, catering companies, cruise lines, spas, convention centres, resorts, casinos and guesthouses.

What is the eligibility criteria to become an Executive Chef?

You must have completed a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts or hotel management in order to become an Executive Chef. Some of the companies hire candidates who have completed a master’s degree.

What profiles are available for an Executive Chef?

Some of the other profiles available for an Executive Chef are Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, Restaurant Manager, Catering Manager and Food and Beverage Manager.

Who works under Executive Chef?

Some of the staff members and Chefs that work under Executive Chef are Sous Chef, Line Chef, Line Cook, Pastry Chef and Grill Chef.

What are the pros of a career as an Executive Chef?

This profile allows you to utilise your creative skills for creating new menus and dishes for the restaurant. Besides this, you can also start your own business.

How much work experience is required to become an Executive Chef?

You must have at least 5+ years of experience in hotel management to become an Executive Chef.

What skills do you need to be an Executive Chef?

Some of the skills required to be an Executive Chef are excellent communication skills, time management skills, organisation skills and leadership skills.

Does an Executive Chef cook?

The main duty of the Executive Chef is to develop a menu and train the team of sous chefs, cooks and dishwashers. He also cooks dishes and coordinates with the kitchen staff whenever required.

What is the role of an Executive Chef?

An Executive Chef manages the work of cooks and other staff members working in the kitchen. Besides this, he is responsible for training new staff members.

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